Steelheads' Coach Resigns

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

The news release follows:

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3119040

Yeah, Coach Ticknor looks like he must have lost 30 pounds in the last month.

[lightning fan]

Sorry to hear Ticknor has some health problems. I wish him the best. I did not notice his weight loss.

Do you think Osbourne will be permanent head coach or will they open it up to applicants after the season? Do you think Renaldo Thomas would have a shot at the position? How do you think all this will affect the franchise?

On a unrelated subject, I notice on Gary Southshore Railcats website fan pictures almost all fans are white. Is Railcats fan base a complete opposite of Steelheads, or do Railcats better market to their fan base? Do Railcats fans come in from outlying areas? Have the Steelheads tried to market inside US Steel Yard to try and reach this fan base that does not go to Steelheads games?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

I noticed the weight loss right away. Just figured he was dieting and working out though. I didn't have an idea he was ill until the last Friday home game before the all*star break. Ticknor never left his seat throughout the game--not one time. We (my wife and I) suspected something was wrong then.

Osbourne is permanent. He is ready for a head coaching job in the CBA. Renaldo Thomas should have hung around Gary. One never knows when an associate coaching position will open up. I don't think his Rockford free-agent camps, first scheduled for across the street from the Gary Genesis Center then scheduled for across the Gary city limits in East Chicago, left a good taste in people's mouths around here.

Yes, most of the Gary Southshore Railcat fans are white. I think the percentage is 80% white and 20% other (according to what a Railcats staffer told me after the first home season). Most of the ballpark workers are African-American though, so the Railcats are a blessing to Gary residents (although a lot of Gary residents are of the cross-burning variety...which is another story). Most of the Railcat fans come-in from out of town. When there is a baseball game, the Bennigan's bar and grill out in right field is packed--always.

The Steelheads and the Railcats are feuding. They are both slicing off their noses to teach their own faces a lesson. Last season, the Steelheads gave the Railcats a booth out of public view, all the way in the back during a promotion. The Railcats returned the favor during baseball season by doing an ill-conceived basketball promotion on one of the slowest nights of the week (Tuesday). The Steelheads didn't help their cause any further by putting flyers on cars parked for a Railcats' games only one time during a 48 game home season--the final game of the season.

It seems like the Steelheads and Railcats are feuding about who should receive the most casino revenues...real kid stuff! Neither organization advertises at the other's venue. Both organizations could use the other's help.

[not so fast]

Certainly, in the world of sports we take it seriously, but nothing is more important than the health of the players and coaches. And with that being said, we must all pray coach Ticknor is okay. Certainly, the stress of minorleague coaching would not be good for anyone with any kind of condition. We, who are junkies, understand the stress that coaches are under, but the average person has no clue.

I am suprised that Jewel Harris did not call this a temporary medical leave. What happens if he happens to get better in a few months and wants to coach again? Is that option still there?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Interesting question. A few weeks back, I read an article stating that Coach Osbourne was ready for a CBA head coaching position and Coach Ticknor ultimately wanted a front office position. Maybe when Tick recovers, he will move to the front office. Remember, he originally came to the Steelheads as Director of Player Development (or some such title).

[lightning fan]

That is too bad Cats and Heads can't get together. Since they have two completely different fan bases they could help each other in getting the casual fans to at least try out the other offerings a few times a year. I don't think it would hurt.

They should at least trade signs in arena and outfield wall. That would be an even trade and good exposure.

For some odd reason Icehogs/Lightning/Riverhawks do not do this. I do not think they are feuding, however, it is odd that Riverhawks painted (1) spot a Riverhawk logo (2) I think gave artist that did all the outfield signs a free spot and (3) left one big spot at far left field blank instead of doing a trade with Icehogs and Lightning. These three spots had been blank all 3 years Riverhawks where in Marinelli field and only were painted, over half way through their last year there 04. Think of what Riverhawks missed out on. They could have had a big ad at Metrocentre during all events not just Lightning and Icehogs. Riverhawks did have lightning night on a fri night with Daleo throwing out first pitch and staff attending booth right in high traffic area of concourse. I recall a Icehog night but can not remember details.

Maybe they could not agree on signs or somone may have thought it would not be a even trade. It will be interesting to see what happens in new stadium in 05. I know Hawks and Lightning traded season tix for staff when Mike Tuite was GM. Not sure if that continued.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

A lot of the Steelhead season ticket holders are also Railcat season ticket holders.

The Railcats and Steelheads used to advertise at each's venue. The Railcats did a promotion at every Steelheads game. The Steelheads had an outfield sign at U.S. Steel Yard.

Not anymore though. It's all about you don't support me, so I won't support you these days. Even with Coach Thomas (now with Rockford) it was about, you hurt me so now I am going to hurt you back(with those Rockford free agent camps in Gary's backyard). Why burn your bridges like that? This kind of stuff happens all too often in Gary. That's why Gary's downtown looks like war-torn Iraq. We rather face torture than look at the bigger picture and support each other's businesses.

...and yes, I think the Genesis Center should be turned-over to the Steelheads to run. It won't happen though because too many Gary residents are concerned that the owner (Jewell Harris, Sr.) might make a profit. Duh! Currently, the Genesis Center is being run by city workers with no prior experience in arena management who are happy just to get a paycheck. The Genesis Center needs someone with something to lose running the place.

With that said, I hope Ticknor recovers soon. He sure looked thin the last time I saw him.

[not so fast]

What is going wrong with the steelheads, why are they struggling so bad?

Is Jewell Harris happy with these results of the new coach?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

A coach is only as good as the players behind him/her. That is why you won't see Phil Jackson come out of retirement to coach the New York Knicks. Phil Jackson would just be an average Joe if he had a team like the present-day Knicks behind him and he knows it.

The same is true of the Steelheads. Beyond the starting five, there is not much bench strength. The Steelheads always fade in the second half. Jimmy "Snap" Hunter is supposed to be a scorer coming off the bench, but you cannot rely on his game whatsoever. He is the weak link right now. The Steelheads need to spend some of that money they are not spending on marketing to obtain a consistant scorer...a scorer who can play a little defense.

The Steelheads really miss Immanuel McElroy.

[not so fast]

I was at the Gary/Idaho game, great food, suprisingly small crowd. Genesis is a great arena. I don't understand how that when Rockford came a year ago, there was sellout crowd, now it was about a thousand people. What has happened?

Also, who is that kid coaching Gary?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Steelheads coaches have been dropping like flies this year. Last year, Coach Ticknor walked over to where I was sitting and asked me, "Does this mean we have to take you on the road with us?" when he saw me wearing my Steelheads road jersey. Little did I know that a year later my services may actually be required to fill-in as coach instead. :shock:

The kid filling-in for Dale Osbourne (who took over from Duane Ticknor) is Adam Tatalovich, director of player development. Funny, but his last name sounds like one of the five families from the first Godfather movie.

The Friday night crowd against Idaho was 1800 and change. The Saturday night crowd against Idaho was 2187. The crowds are smaller this year because almost no marketing is being done. The only television of Steelheads games this year were two broadcasts on the public access channel. These delayed broadcasts consisted of fourth quarter action only. Slim pickings indeed.

[GI Love]

Ken, Steelheads fan

I just wanted to send a little love to the folks in GI, and especially my regards to Coach Ticknor, Coach Osbourne and the staff. Let them know that I miss the cold, windy winter nights and the great smell of US Steel coming off of Lake Michigan.

My days spent in Gary were a blast! I never really had a bad experience, even holding clinics and appearances in the so-called projects of GI. The people were always so nice to me, definately more so than the folks in the suburbs were.

I will always think positively of my days in GI, met a ton of great people. I will keep track of how the team is doing, although I'm a bit disappointed in the attendance numbers this year and the team's record overall. BUT, I do understand the adversity that this year's team is going through and the franchise overall in it's short existence. It's a shame that such a city has that stigma attached that people won't even come to a basketball game in a basketball-rich area. (But WE did our best!)

Many days were spent golfing with Coach Tick and his son David and I know that he'll be back in the basketball realm very soon, it's in his blood. I hope that he recovers well and very soon. And I wish the Harris' the best of luck!

My first season in the "majors" is going very well, although our team is a bit like the Heads, very up and down. It's definately a different animal in the bigs!

Ken, any guesses as to who this is? If you can guess, tell your wife, Steelie, "lady front office", and those crazy folks in section 4 courtside hello for me.

PS Your bobblehead was truly beautiful.

[GI Love]

PSS I can't believe that I HAD to miss the All-Star Game, that would have been so much FUN! :cry:

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

GI Love,
Yeah! I know who you are. Marilyn Monroe was the first centerfold of Playboy magazine (I wasn't born then either, but I knew). She was definitely NOT the first high school basketball player to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. :roll:

...inside joke for everyone else. :)

Yeah, it's the same old story. Move up to the next level and forget about us slugs. What's up with that? The NBA scouts were all there sitting at their little tables. George Karl was there. Gary Hunter, CBA commissioner, was there (sorry, that was an ABA bash). That's all right though. You missed a great slam-dunk and three-point shooting competition. It was a Steelheads sweep. You also missed a great all*star game and a great all*star crowd...I guess one day it will all be on television....maybe.

You didn't ask me to say hello to the Steelhearts dance team. What's up with that? That's all right though too. Last Saturday was Steelhearts Poster/Autograph Night (something else the Steelheads didn't market), so I would have only been able to say hello then. I probably won't be able to say hello again until the 2005 draft party. :?

If you don't have a bobblehead yet, have the Steelheads send you one. They should be worth something someday. I asked for two bobbleheads for myself, but the Steelheads gave me half of one bobblehead instead. They said I can have the other half (the actual bobbing head) if I purchase season tickets for next season. :roll:

:lol:

[GI Love]

I've already explained to you about the inside joke thing, so no need to bring it up again. Oh well, what can you do when your TV guy gives you no prep time.

Some big trades going on in the league.....CWebb, etc. Can't wait to see if we do anything.

Glad to hear that things are still going well for you, but tell those jokers in the office that they should give you five (yes, 5) of those bobbleheads just for good measure.

And while you're at it, tell everyone HI for me.....thanks.